Kenya Safaris

Experience some of the best game viewing in the world on a tailor-made Kenya safari. With your private guide and driver, set out onto the legendary savannah of the Masai Mara. Float in a hot air balloon over fantastic landscape to watch herds of animals on the move. Otherwise, with your knowledgeable ranger, explore the misty mountains of snow-topped Mount Kenya, or S ...amburu, Kenya’s arid desert where elephant and zebra gather in great numbers at water holes. At Lake Bajuru, see thousands of pink flamingos, monkeys, baboons or rhinos. Sleep in luxury tents on the plains of Laikipia National Reserve, a sanctuary for elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo—or bed down at Nairobi’s Giraffe Manor Nairobi where giraffes wander the grounds. This is the African safari adventure you’ve been dreaming of since you were a kid. With that in mind, our ‘Kidtastic’ tailor-made tours introduce families to the Masai’s vibrant culture, an elephant sanctuary, playful chimpanzees and more. Let our experts create the perfect itinerary—your style, your pace— for unforgettable Kenya safari tour memories.Show More

Discover the best game viewing circuit in East Africa. From Nairobi to Amboseli, Arusha, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Masai Mara and Lake Naivasha, you'll have your own private safari guide, 4x4 vehicle and driver.

Witness millions of game animals thunder the plains as they follow the ancient rhythm of Africa’s seasons. From Tanzania's Serengeti to Kenya's Masai Mara, the Great Migration is the greatest show on earth.

TOP THINGS TO DO

Get up close and personal with elephants and see amazing views of Mount Kilimanjaro in Amboseli.

Witness firsthand the incredible spectacle of the Great Migration.

Soar over the Masai Mara on a hot air balloon flight.

Search for endangered Black Rhinos in Lewa Conservancy.

Immerse yourself in the local Maasai culture.

BEFORE YOU GO

On Your Kenya Safaris

PASSPORTS

VISAS

INSURANCE

VACCINATIONS

MEDICATION

WEATHER, SEASONS & CLIMATE

CLOTHING & ESSENTIAL ITEMS

ELECTRICITY, PHONE & INTERNET

CURRENCY

Quick Facts

Passport Requirements for Kenya Safaris

A passport that is valid for at least six months after the end of your trip is required for both U.S. and Canadian citizens to enter and depart the country. Please ensure that the name on your passport matches all travel documents we have issued. If this is not the case, please contact us immediately. Your passport must have at least two blank pages for the entry stamp. This cannot include the ‘endorsement’ page at the back.

Please make a photocopy of your passport’s identification page and keep it separate from your original. It’s also a good idea to leave a digital copy with someone at home. This may speed up the replacement process should you lose your passport.

Visa Requirements for Kenya Safaris

A visa is required prior to entry into Kenya.

You can obtain a Kenyan Tourist Visa upon arrival at the airport in Nairobi. The cost of the visa is $50 USD per person and must be paid in CASH only. You can also obtain a Kenyan Tourist Visa ahead of time through an online application portal by visiting: https://www.ecitizen.go.ke. The online visas will be processed and sent to the applicant(s) online who are then required to print out the approved visa and present it to an Immigration officer at the point of entry. For step-­by­-step instructions visit, http://www.magicalkenya.com/wp­content/uploads/2014/07/visa.jpg

Visa fees for children less than 16 years are waived indefinitely from 1 February 2016.

These requirements change often and therefore it is recommended that you check with the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya for the most up- to-date information.

Insurance Recommendations for Kenya Tours

Cancelation and Medical Insurance is highly recommended as it can safeguard against the expenses associated with in-country medical emergencies, lost or delayed baggage and emergency cancelation or interruption of your trip. Please ensure your policy will provide you with upfront medical coverage so that you are not responsible for a hefty doctor’s bill while away. Insurance can be purchased through us.

Vaccination Requirements for Kenya Safaris

Some vaccines require more than one dose or a major length of time to be effective. For that reason, it is recommended to see your doctor or health provider at least 6 to 8 weeks before your trip. For all vaccinations and health requirements, you can also refer to the recommendations from:

World Health Organization (WHO): http://www.who.int

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) http://wwwnc.cdc.gov.

Currently Required Vaccinations: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over one year of age arriving from infected areas. It must be given at least 10 days before your trip in order to be effective. A yellow fever shot is NOT required for visitors from U.S. and Canada direct, however if you are travelling through Kenya into Tanzania and/or Zanzibar, you will need the vaccine.

Other vaccines to discuss with your doctor or travel health professional:

Typhoid recommended but not required for entry

Poliomyelitis (polio) recommended but not required for entry

Malaria is present although not generally in Nairobi and the highlands (above 8200ft/2500m). However, malaria pills are an option to discuss with your doctor.

You may also want to discuss Tetanus, Diphtheria and Hepatitis B & E, Meningitis, Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) from swimming or paddling in fresh water, dengue fever from mosquitos and rabies depending on your time of visit and where you’ll be traveling

Remember that the best precaution is the preventative kind. Wearing long sleeves is a good idea. To reduce the risk of contracting yellow fever, dengue fever and malaria, liberally apply mosquito repellent that contains DEET to your skin and clothes, and wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers/slacks especially in the evenings.

Medication Requirements for Kenya Safaris

If there are any medical items essential to your health, such as prescription drugs or corrective eye wear, bring duplicates and divide them between your checked bags and hand luggage. While non-prescription drugs such as aspirin are generally available, it is difficult to replace prescription items.

Other recommended Items:

Sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher), after-sun lotion, lip balm, sunglasses

Insect repellent with a high concentration of DEET (at least 30 percent)

Weather, Seasons and Climate in Kenya

Kenya’s climate is warm and humid at the coast, cool and humid in the central highlands, and hot and dry in the north and east. Since Kenya lies on the equator, daytime temperatures in most parts are consistently warm all year. Kenya has a long rainy season from April to June, and a short rainy season from late October to mid-December. The best game-viewing is during the dry winter months (May – August) and warmer spring months (September & October). For up-to-date forecasts, check www.weather.com.

Clothing and Essential Items for Kenya Travel

It is important to pack clothes for warm days and cool evenings, as well as a warm jacket for early morning game drives. Light, quick-drying, practical clothes are advisable. Non-synthetic, comfortably fitting, cotton clothing breathes more easily and will keep you cooler under the hot African sun. Shorts and T-shirts are normally the order of the day, and are replaced with long-sleeved shirts and trousers at night for warmth and protection from insect bites.

Preferred colors on safari are khaki, beige, olive green and brown. You are less visible in the African bush and therefore less threatening to the animals. These colors also help to deflect harsh sun and are less likely to attract mosquitoes.

Other essential items:

Sweater, jersey pullover, safari jacket or windbreaker for the evenings

Swimwear

Bandannas, handkerchiefs and hat with a brim

For upscale lodges and nights out in Nairobi, you may want to pack something more formal.

Electricity, Phone and Internet in Kenya

Electricity: Electricity in Kenya is 220/240 volts and 50HZ. Plugs have three rectangular prongs that form a triangle. To conserve power in environmentally sensitive areas lodges may turn off electricity overnight. If you have a medical device that requires 24 hour electricity please contact your travel consultant.

Phone: Your cell phone will work in most areas while on safari if you have a “Smart Phone.” However, roaming can be quite expensive so we do strongly recommend that you pre-purchase a data and roaming plan with your carrier before travel.

Internet: Local connections are exceptionally slow and can be costly (as much as $5-10 per half hour). “Smart” phones such as BlackBerrys and iPhones will actually download data much faster than computers. Again, roaming and data charges can be exceptionally high – so please talk to your phone provider to pre-purchase a data plan for when you are on safari.

Internet cafés and wireless access are available in most urban areas, airports and hotels. Please note that wi-fi and internet service provided in properties is at the discretion of each establishment and Kensington Tours has no control over this. Please feel free to check with your Sales Consultant before travel if you’d like to know internet set up at each of your properties or contact the properties directly so you are aware of their internet policy if this is important to you. You may like to speak to your internet provider prior to travel to arrange a roaming package.

Currency in Kenya

The currency in Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling (KSh), divided into 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of KSh1,000, 500, 200, 100 and 50. Coins are in denominations of KSh20, 10 and 5. Bring plenty of cash, an ATM card and a credit card (see below).

Be sure to have a combination of 1’s, 5’s, 10’s and 20’s and 50’s. Larger bills can be used for your visas and to tip guides, while smaller funds are used to make small purchases or tip service providers.

How much money to bring: Generally speaking we advise bringing at least $500 - $700 USD per person to cover visas, tipping and spending money. The official exchange rate is published daily in the newspapers and online at www.xe.com.

Note: Only newly printed USD (currency printed 2006 or later) and local currency will be accepted in East Africa. Any USD currency printed without the new security measures will not be accepted anywhere.

Quick Facts for a Kenya Tour

Capital: Nairobi

Language: The national language is Swahili (locally referred to as KiSwahili) although English is widely spoken. You’ll also find numerous indigenous languages.